15. Israel Folau: 6
Got his hands the ball a fair amount but we’re still waiting for him to really explode into life – next week would be ideal, for Wallaby fans. Pretty well shackled by the Pumas defence.
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper: 8.5
Usually a bloke who scores a hat-trick gets an automatic man of the match but, such was the quality of the Aussie attack, the veteran winger only had to coast in for his trio of tries. That said, his support play was first rate and he showed good pace to get to the corner for his first try, consolidating his reputation as one of the most accomplished backs in world rugby.
13. Tevita Kuridarni: 7
A bustling, bruising display in the middle of the park. Offered a source of gainline-busting power for the Wallabies and looked solid defence, too.
12. Matt Giteau: 6.5
Only lasted just over a half and that will be a concern for Michael Cheika, but his calming influence and deadly execution was a key factor in a dominant first-half display from the men in green and gold, with his gorgeous miss-nine (or thereabouts) pass putting in Ashley-Cooper for his second.
11. Drew Mitchell: 7.5
Gets a couple of points for that run at the end. He beat a staggering 10 defenders in the game, but most of the time he was pretty boxed in. It was only with 10 minutes to go that he went berserk and beat everyone on the pitch before throwing a (pretty ropey) pass to set up his old mate’s hat-trick.
10. Bernard Foley: 7
Much better than last week from Foley. Yes, a couple of kicks from the tee went flying off in bizarre directions but his pass for his side’s second try and a brilliant cover tackle on Marcelo Bosch showed that he is still the man to spearhead the Wallaby attack.
9. Will Genia: 7
He’s grown this tournament after a decidedly ropey start, and is beginning to look like the player he was four years ago. A couple of promising darts didn’t really materialise into anything but his service to Foley was deliciously quick.
1. James Slipper: 5
Australia’s most-capped prop is still one of my favourites – but for his work in the loose, and not his scrummaging, where he should be earning his corn. Struggled badly against Herrera and Cheika will be praying Scott Sio is fit for next week.
2. Stephen Moore: 6.5
Under pressure in the scrum and mostly pretty solid in the line-out, but it was in defence where the humpty-dumpty skipper really stood out, making nine tackles without missing one.
3. Sekope Kepu: 5.5
Struggled at times with Marcos Ayerza (who hasn’t?) but most of the problems were on the other side, to be fair. I was more disappointed with the fact that we didn’t see him carrying to his usual effect.
4. Kane Douglas: 7.5
Carried the ball precisely zero times but made up for that with a massive work-rate in defence, making 15 tackles and missing none. Most of them were bone-jarringly physical too, as he buried Argentinian hopes of cutting loose once again.
5. Rob Simmons: 6.5
A collector’s item – a Rob Simmons score – was definitely the highlight for the big lock in a game where he wasn’t at his best in defence, being caught out of position a couple of times and slipping a couple of tackles. Great appetite for work, however.
6. Scott Fardy: 8
Another colossal display from a man who is starting to get noticed for more than just his world-class facial hair. He made 16 tackles and was a constant nuisance at the breakdown, denying the Pumas the quick ball they craved for much of the match.
7. Michael Hooper: 8
Must absolutely love playing with Pocock because it effectively gives him a free-role to just charge around and cause carnage in defence and with the ball in hand. On the occasion of his 50th cap – a staggering achievement (given his age) in itself – he was once again in ‘pest’ mode for the Argentinians.
8. David Pocock: 9
Answered questions about his fitness emphatically with an awesome display. He ruled the breakdown once again with four turnovers and I reckon there were a couple of penalties that were down to him, too. Man of the match.
Replacements: 7.5
An overwhelmingly positive impact – Beale was sharp, Toby Smith and Polota-Nau contributed with some brutal carries, and Nick Phipps didn’t throw the ball to the opposition, which was good.
By Mike Cooper (@RuckedOver)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
What does Pocock have to do to get a 10? I’d have said that was pretty much an impeccable display
Thinks scores on the Aussie front row are all too high, especially on Slipper. His primary role is as a pro, not an extra centre and as a prop, he got utterly, totally demolished. No more than a 2 in my book
Pocock was just utterly ridiculous. Thought Beale was very good off the bench but I’m not sure how you can get him in the starting line up. Polata-Nau certainly has his wheatabix too; started his game with a couple of massive carries.
Really hope we see Australia win next weekend.
To me it highlighted how badly England need fast mobile 6 & 7’s instead of lumbering Giants
Tardy and Hooper were immense and backed up by probably the best 8 in the world at the moment!
This is not just about back rows and England do not have lumbering giants.
Fardy – 6′ 6, 17st 13lb
Wood – 6′ 4, 16st 11lb
Pocock – 6′ 1, 18st 1lb
Robshaw – 6′ 2 17st 2lb
(figures taken from national team websites)
Check the stats for the Aus / Eng game. Whilst they do not show everything, they do show that both Pocock and Robshaw were 1st or 2nd to rucks, (both offensive and defensive) a similar amount of times and more than anyone else on the field.
The difference is that A. Pocock’s technique and timing is the best in the world and B. he has quick support and aggressive rucking from the rest of his pack. Too often Robshaw was trying to the job on his own with little support and when he did get support it was often ineffectual.
Cheika has hit upon a brilliant and radical set-up. Outside of the scrum, Pocock is not playing as an 8 but as an openside. Hooper is playing as a kind of openside/centre. Fardy is playing a more traditional blindside role
They can do this as their locks and props are carrying the ball effectively enough to allow them the lee-way to not play a ball-carrier at 8 a la Vunipola / Picamoles / Faletau but instead to play an openside there. This is also helped by Fardy turning in brilliant performance after brilliant performance in supporting both Hooper and Pocock. He is the lynchpin for this back row and wiithout him it would not work anywhere near so well.
It will be interesting to see what happens when they come up against the ABs who are equally as good on the floor, have a pack who are ball carriers 1 through 8 and who ruck aggressively, effectively and as a unit.
England’s problem is that they do not have the correct strategy or technique at the breakdown and until they fix that, changes in personnel will make little difference.
A bit hard on Giteau and Folau. Beale was sharp? My favourite player wasn’t that sharp on that game. Well done Australia, the most eligible challengers for New Zealand, no question.
After next weekend, what am I going to do with myself. It’s been an epic world cup.
The 6 nations, Pro 12 big matches and Heineken cup – the filler for me as I wait for my favourite tournament in my favourite sport for another 4 years. I love this game.